MeToo fear that stopped Frank helping woman with suitcase
COMIC Frank Skinner has revealed that he did not help an attractive woman struggling with her suitcase at an airport because he feared it might be seen as harassment and wreck his career.
His comments will be seen as illustrating how the #MeToo movement and recent sex scandals in the entertainment world have changed the way men approach female friends, colleagues and strangers.
But last night, feminist novelist and commentator Kathy Lette criticised Skinner, a previous host of the hit BBC show Room 101, for not offering to assist the woman.
‘ The young woman may have been struggling with her luggage, but I think that what Frank is struggling with is his emotional baggage,’ she said.
‘Why would he think a courteous offer of help could possibly be misconstrued as some kind of sexual harassment?’
Skinner, 62, spoke of his dilemma on ITV’s Good Morning Britain last week. He told presenters Susanna Reid and Piers Morgan: ‘I’m frightened to stare any more, whoever it is. I saw an attractive woman trying to close a suitcase at the airport. She was really struggling. I didn’t go over and help because I’ve got my career to think of.’
Ms Reid told the comedian, who shot to fame in the 1990s when he co-wrote and performed the England team song Three Lions( Football’ s Coming Home ), that he could have offered to help, but he replied: ‘No, I don’t think you can.’
Call The Midwife star Jenny
Agutter l ast night agreed the comedian should have been chivalrous, but agreed that there could have been problems.
She said: ‘I am not sure that Frank was only thinking of #MeToo. There are a number of problems that can arise from helping someone in a situation like that.
‘I don’t think there would have been harm in asking to help if he carefully looked away if underwear fell out of the bag.
‘ He might also be accused of interfering. How can you help someone repacking a case with all their personal belongings?’
Agutter, 67, who plays nun Sister Julienne i n the popular BBC1 drama, also said she hoped the #MeToo movement was not having a toxic effect.
‘#MeToo is an important response and defence, giving women the opportunity to share, to warn and to shame. It has begun to stop sexual harassment,’ she said.
‘ We can only hope good sense prevails and that alarm bells are rung only when needed, that we know t he difference between good and bad intentions, because it would be a shame if this important movement was corrupted by misuse.
‘I hope we are not stopped from behaving responsibly and with care for fear of being misunderstood.’